{"id":2895,"date":"2013-03-25T09:09:07","date_gmt":"2013-03-25T13:09:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/first2board.com\/verygoodpoints\/?p=2895"},"modified":"2013-04-23T11:50:36","modified_gmt":"2013-04-23T15:50:36","slug":"one-on-one-with-hotel-impossibles-anthony-melchiorri","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/first2board.com\/verygoodpoints\/2013\/03\/25\/one-on-one-with-hotel-impossibles-anthony-melchiorri\/","title":{"rendered":"One on One with Hotel Impossible’s Anthony Melchiorri"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have you seen the Travel Channel’s show,\u00a0Hotel Impossible<\/span>? If you haven’t, you’re missing out. In tonight’s episode, Hotel Impossible takes on the \u00a0Western Riviera in Grand Lake, CO\u00a0(show airs March 25th at 10pm\/9pm C). \u00a0Since I’m a hotel junkie, it’s one of my favorite shows. Last week I had the\u00a0opportunity\u00a0to speak with the show\/s \u00a0host, Anthony Melchiorri, and ask him about the show, the industry and more. \u00a0Here’s part 1 of my interview:<\/p>\n

\"anthony

Anthony Melchiorri (copyright: The Travel Channel)<\/p><\/div>\n

Question:\u00a0 What inspired you to take on TV? <\/b><\/p>\n

Originally, Anthony Melchiorri had no interest in hosting a TV show; he was looking to produce a show about hotels, their guests and suppliers.\u00a0 Until Hotel Impossible<\/span>, there was not a show on TV that highlighted the hotel industry as a whole.\u00a0\u00a0 Anthony built an incredibly successful career and reputation in the hospitality industry and as a general manager of several large hotels. After 20 years of management, he wanted to help struggling hoteliers who needed his expertise and Hotel Impossible<\/span> has allowed him to do just that.<\/p>\n

Anthony has run and developed high-profile hotels in the United States including the first Nickelodeon Hotel and the renowned Algonquin Hotel. \u00a0In addition to roles at holes like the Plaza Hotel, he also has operated hotels within large chains. \u00a0With Hotel Impossible<\/span>, Anthony brings his extensive experience and knowledge, to hotels that need it most.<\/p>\n

Hotel Impossible<\/span> is not reality TV, in fact, far from it.\u00a0 The show is completely unscripted, which keeps producers on their toes and makes for a real, honest look inside the world of independent hotels.<\/p>\n

When Anthony meets a hotel\u2019s manager for the first time, it\u2019s on camera. In fact, he doesn\u2019t even see pictures beforehand. Everything you\u2019re seeing is real.\u00a0 He loves passion and appreciates when hoteliers bring their passion to what they do \u2013 and express it on the show.\u00a0 Many of the hotels featured on the show chose to work with Anthony because of his style \u2013 both on and off camera, it\u2019s clear that he\u2019s honest, authentic and understands the dynamics facing the people who run hotels.\u00a0 Anthony\u2019s energy\u00a0and appetite for helping struggling hotels is real and very contagious. \u00a0After spending the better part of an hour speaking with Anthony, I can understand why the show is so successful \u2013 Anthony gives everything to the people he\u2019s working with and it doesn\u2019t end when the cameras turn off.\u00a0 Anthony frequently speaks with former guests and provides advice and guidance when needed.<\/p>\n

\"anthony

(copyright: The Travel Channel)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Question:\u00a0 How have Twitter, Facebook and other forms of social media impacted the hotel industry? <\/b><\/p>\n

Anthony says that while Facebook and Twitter are not yet at the level of Trip Advisor and similar sites in terms of impact, they\u2019re starting to become more significant.\u00a0\u00a0 One major difference that Anthony points out between a Trip Advisor type site and Facebook, for example, is that people don\u2019t go to Facebook to book hotel rooms.\u00a0 The concept has been tested for more than a year, and additional research from the industry shows that it just doesn\u2019t work.\u00a0 Anthony suggests that Twitter and Facebook should be used as tools to develop a relationship between the hotel and the guest. \u201cIf you send the guest a message before they arrive, they\u2019ll be more likely to come to you when they have a problem. They\u2019ll feel like their friend is running the hotel.\u201d\u00a0 Connecting with guests on Facebook, Twitter and other similar social networks before and after a stay is the best way to maintain that relationship.\u00a0 Trip Advisor, Anthony says, has revolutionized the hotel industry because it\u2019s impactful.<\/p>\n

Question: How can independent hotels compete with major brands in today\u2019s economy<\/b>?<\/p>\n

The internet, Anthony says, has leveled the playing field for independent hotels.\u00a0 The top 13 rated hotels on Trip Advisor in New York City are independent hotels, validating the idea that independents can complete when they have the right tools and leadership.\u00a0 Hotels build their brand and reputation based on many things and cleanliness and safety are at the top.\u00a0 This is where independent hotels can shine.<\/p>\n

Guests want clean, safe hotels. Anthony is not obsessive, as some may say after watching his show, but he says a clean room is not optional, it\u2019s mandatory.\u00a0\u00a0 Anthony uses the analogy of a chef plating a meal at a restaurant. You know that your plate has been touched by the chef, but you don\u2019t want to see a single fingerprint on that plate when it\u2019s served to you.\u00a0 This is why chefs wipe the plate clean before you ever see it.\u00a0 Hotels are the same; every guest wants to believe that the room they\u2019ve just checked into is magically brand new, like no one has ever used it before.<\/p>\n

If you bought a new car, you\u2019d expect that it had an engine. Similarly, Anthony says that cleanliness and safety are not open for discussion. In season one of Hotel Impossible<\/span>, viewers learned that using a wooden luggage rack is a no-no because they can house bedbugs.\u00a0 If you caught Anthony on The Dr. Oz Show last week, he confirmed one of my worst nightmares \u2013 and now it can be your nightmare, too.\u00a0 The glassware in hotel rooms is not always as clean as you might expect.\u00a0 There have been many recent news stories about how dirty the glasses are in hotel rooms and Anthony confirms that there are times when the housekeepers cut corners.\u00a0 Anthony prefers disposable cups in closed plastic.\u00a0\u00a0 Interestingly, I was in California when I spoke with Anthony and after the conversation, I noticed that my hotel room had plastic cups in the bathroom.\u00a0 In fact, there was a sign stating that all hotels in California are required to provide sealed plastic cups for health reasons.\u00a0 Personally, I hope more states and hotels start adopting that same stance and provide plastic.<\/p>\n

Question:\u00a0 Starwood Hotels and Delta Airlines recently announced a new partnership, \u201cCrossover Reward.\u201d\u00a0 Do you think the program will be successful and that frequent travelers will change their loyalties because of this program?\u00a0 And, do you see other brands following suit?<\/b><\/p>\n

Anthony says that this new program will 100% impact frequent travelers loyalty and continues on to say that programs like this are why independent and local hotels need pros on their side.\u00a0 \u201cIf you\u2019re not an expert,\u201d he says, \u201cyou\u2019ll get annihilated.\u201d But he also says that you could put him, or any seasoned professional with the right expertise across the street from one of the big brand hotels in an independent hotel and they will absolutely succeed.\u00a0 Anthony believes that 80% of the people Starwood and Delta are targeting with Crossover rewards are frequent travelers.\u00a0 The most seasoned and most frequent travelers likely already have their status with a particular brand and may not switch because of this, but those who are once a month or slightly more frequent travelers who already stay or travel with one of the two brands will likely switch loyalties to increase their benefits.<\/p>\n

As for the future, Anthony says that this program will create a significant domino effect and other brands are likely to follow suit with comparable programs.<\/p>\n

Question:\u00a0 Having spent years in the hotel industry and since you\u2019re constantly in hotels, do you still enjoy vacationing in hotels?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Absolutely says Anthony. He recently took his family to a resort in Orlando and he says he ordered room service at 4:30 a.m. \u201cjust because I could.\u201d<\/p>\n

I wanted to ask this question because as someone who stays at hotels around 200+ nights a year, I get asked the question all the time by friends and family.\u00a0 I never understood why people asked this question.\u00a0 I love hotels; I can\u2019t imagine ever not liking hotels.\u00a0 I was very pleased to learn that Anthony still loves hotels and vacations at them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was an absolute pleasure speaking with Anthony and learning more about Hotel Impossible <\/span>and the hotel industry.\u00a0 Anthony shared some of what\u2019s to come this season and there are some really exciting episodes coming up. If you\u2019re not in front of the TV, make sure you\u2019re recording it!<\/p>\n

If you liked this interview, follow me on Twitter<\/a> or Facebook<\/a>. I\u2019ll have more of the interview with Anthony in the near future. \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Have you seen the Travel Channel’s show,\u00a0Hotel Impossible? If you haven’t, you’re missing out. In tonight’s episode, Hotel Impossible takes on the \u00a0Western Riviera in Grand Lake, CO\u00a0(show airs March 25th at 10pm\/9pm C). \u00a0Since I’m a hotel junkie, it’s…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2899,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"jetpack_publicize_message":"One on One with Hotel Impossible's Anthony Melchiorri @AnthonyHotel #HotelImpossible","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[91,92,742,18],"tags":[177,278,178,179],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\nOne on One with Hotel Impossible's Anthony Melchiorri - VeryGoodPoints<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Hotel Impossible, Anthony Melchiorri, Travel Channel\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"http:\/\/first2board.com\/verygoodpoints\/2013\/03\/25\/one-on-one-with-hotel-impossibles-anthony-melchiorri\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"One on One with Hotel Impossible's Anthony Melchiorri - 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